No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThis information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Guyana’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Guyana set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Guyana High Commission in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Guyana, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou will not be able to enter Guyana if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
\n\nYou do not need a visa to visit Guyana. Visitors can normally stay for 30 days, but you can apply for one-month extensions from Guyana’s immigration and support services.
\n\nThe Guyanese authorities can arrest visitors who overstay or abuse the conditions of their stay. You could get a one-year prison sentence, a fine of up to 50,000 Guyana dollars (about 250 US dollars) and deportation – at your own expense – upon your release.
\n\nCheck the requirements for work or student visas with the Guyana High Commission in the UK well before you travel.
\n\nYou must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
\n\nFor full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, including yellow fever, see TravelHealthPro’s Guyana guide.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Guyana. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
\n\nUK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
\n\nAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Guyana, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nThere are occasional protests and political demonstrations throughout Guyana. Stay away from demonstrations as unrest can occur without notice.
\n\nVenezuela disputes the legitimacy of its border with Guyana. Political tensions remain and the security situation along the border remains tense. There has also been an increase in organised criminality in these border areas.
\n\nThere continues to be a dispute between Suriname and Guyana over the land in the New River Triangle area in the south-east of Guyana.
\n\nOrganised crime in these border areas is common and increasing.
\n\nCheck with local authorities if travelling near the border areas, both of which are in remote areas.
\n\nCrime levels are significant, and police capacity is low. Petty crime, including pickpocketing and bag snatching, is common, and violent crime continues to be a risk.
\n\nAttacks and muggings have occurred in broad daylight but are more common at night, and have included the use of knives or firearms. They may target tourists, particularly those that show obvious signs of wealth.
\n\nForeign and Guyanese nationals have reportedly been targeted in:
\n\nForeign visitors have been assaulted in Georgetown’s Botanical Gardens. If possible, visit with an organised group and avoid taking valuables.
\n\nThere have been incidents of gangs following cars from Cheddi Jagan International Airport and then attacking their victims when they reach their destination. Always drive with windows closed and doors locked.
\n\nTake care when exchanging money or buying goods on the street. Go inside the money exchange or shop, or use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres. Consider arranging to be collected by a car or taxi booked by your hotel or with a licensed operator.
\n\nThieves will take items from hotel rooms, parked vehicles or luggage if it is unattended. Keep your passports, money, tickets, mobile phones and other valuables as secure as you can, and use hotel safes or safe deposit boxes if possible.
\n\nScammers often offer travellers in South America free air tickets to Guyana. On arrival their ‘sponsors’ will only allow them to leave Guyana if they carry a ‘package’ (usually cocaine). The authorities at the airport will stop and search foreigners that fit this known profile.
\n\nYou can get lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines for possession or the trafficking of drugs. The minimum jail sentence for drug offences is 3 years, and prison conditions in Guyana are tough. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry any items that do not belong to you.
\n\nSame-sex sexual activity is illegal. In practice, these laws are rarely enforced, and there is growing local support for LGBT+ rights. You could receive negative attention for showing affection in public.
\n\nRead more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nFires have occurred in Guyanese hotels, and some hotels have poor fire safety procedures. Check evacuation procedures and exit routes when you arrive, and speak to hotel management if you have any concerns.
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Guyana, see information on driving abroad.
\n\nYou can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Guyana. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP). After 60 days you’ll need to buy a 4-week foreign driving permit.
\n\nIf you’re planning to hire a car, check with your car hire company for information on their requirements before you travel.
\n\nDriving in Guyana can be dangerous because of reckless drivers, frequent hazards, poor street lighting, and poor road conditions. Drive with caution and take extreme care if you choose to drive at night. Keep a safe distance from minibuses – minibus drivers are responsible for many of the road accidents in Guyana.
\n\nIf possible, avoid travel to and from Cheddi Jagan International Airport late at night and before dawn. There have been fatal accidents caused by erratic driving.
\n\nAlthough private taxis can be targeted by robbers, they are the safest way for visitors to get around Georgetown. Use taxis from reputable companies and book them in advance or from official hotel taxi ranks.
\n\nDo not hail taxis from the roadside, and avoid using “public” minibuses unless pre-booked from reputable sources.
\n\nThere have been armed attacks against fishing boats in and around the waters of Guyana and Suriname, and those between Guyana and Venezuela. If you’re travelling by sea, read about the regional risks at sea.
\n\nIf you are travelling on Guyana’s rivers, use registered boat services equipped with life jackets. Do not travel by boat after dark.
\n\nOnly use scheduled ferry services when crossing the Corentyne River between Guyana and Suriname. Using water taxis (‘backtracking’) from Suriname to Guyana is illegal and can lead to arrest, imprisonment and then deportation.
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nGuyana is vulnerable to flooding. The main rainy seasons are generally May to June and December to January. The coast of Guyana is below sea level and protected by a sea defence and dam system. However, the anti-flooding infrastructure and drainage systems are poorly maintained
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nCall 913 and ask for an ambulance.
\n\nContact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nGo to TravelHealthPro to see what health risks you’ll face in Guyana, including:
\n\nAltitude sickness is a risk in parts of Guyana. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nIn 2024, UNAIDS estimated that around 11,000 people in Guyana were living with HIV. Take normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nMedical facilities are very limited, even in Georgetown. There are extremely limited health facilities in remote areas. Standards of medical practice are low and you should arrange an evacuation for any serious or invasive treatment if possible. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical providers in Guyana where some staff will speak English.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
\n\nAmbulance: 913
\n\nFire: 912
\n\nPolice: 911
\n\nContact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
\n\nFor refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThe Overseas Business Risk service offers information and advice for British companies operating in Guyana on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.
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